Yorba Linda residents in 2008 gather near the intersection of Bastanchury Road and Fairmont Boulevard to watch the Freeway Complex fire burning on the city’s northern border. (Photo by Bruce Chambers, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Canyon Fire 2 scorched swaths of chaparral, burned down homes and prompted neighborhoods from Anaheim Hills to North Tustin to evacuate Monday, Oct. 9. By afternoon, the fast-moving fire had burned at least 4,000 acres, blanketing Orange County in smoke.

Large fall firestorms, often fueled by dry Santa Ana winds, are all too familiar to Southern Californians and the firefighters that have battled them over the years:

Freeway Complex fire

Flames at times burned 14 football fields worth of land every minute as the Freeway Complex fire made its way from Corona to north Orange County Nov. 15, 2008.

Wind gusts kept smoke low to the ground, reducing visibility for firefighters and firefighting aircraft. Crews adopted a “bump and run” strategy of rushing from one home to the next, knocking down hot spots as they went.

It took four days to contain, destroying 187 homes in Anaheim Hills, Yorba Linda and Brea and burning more than 30,000 acres, making it the most damaging fire in Orange County since the Laguna Beach fire in 1993.

An aerial photo shows the aftermath of the Freeway Complex Fire in a Yorba Linda neighborhood. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Santiago fire

The arid Santiago Canyon hillside was waiting for a spark, and on Oct. 21, 2007, an arsonist obliged, starting a fire off Santiago Canyon Road that would scorch more than 28,000 acres and destroy 14 homes.

The fire had burned three acres when the first firefighters arrived. Fanned by Santa Ana winds, the fire spread to 10 acres by the time a fire captain called for backup.

Over its course, the Santiago fire threatened about 750 homes throughout Santiago, Silverado, Trabuco and other canyons. It took crews 19 days to finally defeat the blaze. The arsonist has not been caught.

Laguna Beach fire

But within those 30 hours, 441 homes and 14,000 acres burned. Strong winds planted flames on new hillsides. Firefighters faced steep terrain and low water pressure, having to bring in water tenders to fight the fast-moving blaze.

While firefighters line the streets of Laguna Beach, a resident tries to save his home using a garden hose to keep roof wet. (Photo by Bruce R. Strong, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Laguna Beach fire is considered one of the most destructive in modern California history, causing an estimated $528 million in damage.

Paseo Grande fire

On Oct. 30, 1967, flames fueled by 50 mph winds stormed across the Santa Ana Mountains toward Cowan Heights and Orange Park Acres, destroying 46 homes on the first day of the Paseo Grande fire.

The fire burned more than 51,000 acres before it was contained three days later.

Mandatory evacuations saved many lives in the fire’s path, though one woman was killed when she was struck by a runaway vehicle. Dozens of cattle, horses and sheep also died.

Stewart fire

No fire in recent Orange County history has burned a larger area than the one that started in Stewart Ranch, near San Juan Capistrano, Dec. 14, 1958.

The Stewart fire burned about 1,000 acres per hour on the first day, consuming 20 homes and 45,000 acres by the second day.

The fire lasted five days, burning about 70,000 acres and killing one firefighter. Its was caused by a young man’s target practice — a tracer bullet ignited the hillside and strong winds did the rest.

Green River fire

Firefighters considered it extinguished — it had burned quietly for about two days — but on Nov. 8, 1948, 50 mph gusts blew new life into the Green River fire.

As residents fled from Silverado and Modjeska canyons, firefighters, soldiers and volunteers kept flames from reaching homes. The Salvation Army reported feeding some 2,000 men on the fire lines.

It started along Santa Ana Canyon and destroyed 22 homes and burned more than 53,000 acres before it was finally put out.

Ian Wheeler is a reporter and researcher. He began his journalism career at Cal State Fullerton's student newspaper, the Daily Titan. He started at The Orange County Register in 2013 and has filled several reporting and research roles since then. Recently, he's specialized in data reporting, processing spreadsheets till his computer crashes.

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